The line between brilliance and insanity can, and often is, a thin one. For me, nothing has defined that thought better than Grizzly Man. This true story of Timothy Treadwell makes that line so hazy that I finally settled for the term "brilliantly insane". Director/writer/narrator Werner Herzog shows the good and the bad of the "kind warrior".

While Treadwell is an obviously troubled man his foresight in capturing some of the best (if not the best) wildlife footage shows his brilliance that was often forgotten amidst his supposed madness. With over 100 hours of film, over a span of 13 years, Treadwell shows the grizzly bears in almost all aspects of their lives. The use of the scenic Alaskan backdrop while grizzly bears fight, hunt, and rest was an amazing eye feast. Sweeping panoramic scenes that encompass bears, fox, and river, close ups of grizzlies while they interact, and shots of nothing except windblown landscape brought the Alaskan Grizzly Bear into my living room in grand style.

It also brought Timothy Treadwell into my home. He appeared to be a man on the brink of insanity. If he couldn't become a bear he would live, at least for the summer months, as one. His highs and lows, as documented by him, show a man that isn't quite sure where he belongs in life. He wants to have relationships with women yet, proclaims himself a failure. He wants to live as one with the bears but, admittedly will never be one. His soaring giddiness gets offset by his plunging despair so often that one has to wonder about mental illness. Then there are moments caught on tape that make me think that it all may be an affectation meant to suck me into his cause. Not the cause of the plight of the grizzly bears, the plight of him not getting the celebrity status that he appeared to want so badly.

When his hat is stolen by a fox cub he becomes angry, swearing at the cub and chasing it because that hat is so *&#*#*#% important to the expedition. It is only a hat yet, the protector of the animals is scaring and chasing this young fox. He claims that he is "alone out here at all times". But, there are at least two years that he had a companion. Amie Huguenard would make the ultimate sacrifice on Treadwell's last expedition in 2003.

The cameos by people who knew Treadwell were interesting. I was given the perspective of those that thought Treadwell was doing something great and others who thought he was mad. The pilot, Sam Egli, that often took Treadwell to grizzly country seemed truly upset about his death and believed Treadwell. was doing good. Another pilot, Willy Fulton, expressed his sentiments that can be best described as feeling Treadwell "got what he deserved".

Val and Carol Dextor (Treadwell's parents) were interviewed. They were open and honest about Treadwell's drug and alcohol abuse. I was surprised to see them as before they were shown Kathleen Parker was given Treadwell's watch and last tape by the coroner. As a previous girlfriend of 3 years it was felt she deserved his possessions so, I assumed there was no living family. I never did quite understand that...unless it just made for better documentary footage as she seemed able to cry on cue.

The coroner, Franc G. Fallico, appeared more mad than Treadwell could have ever claimed to be. His over exaggerated facial expressions and hand movements could have earned him a worst supporting actor Oscar win.

Werner Herzog's narration was, at first, a distraction. His accent made me concentrate more on what he was saying than what was on the screen. It didn't take long before I was pulled into Treadwell's world and Herzog became the background, a sometimes helpful voice.

At a 103 minute runtime I wasn't ready for Grizzly Man to end when it did. It played out the story of Timothy Treadwell but, I wanted more of his footage. Whether I thought his persona was all pretense, or if he was mad, or a combination of both, he was interesting and "his" bears even more so.

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Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD